Man will face trial in Bethlehem child luring case

A 62-year-old man who is a lifetime registered sexual offender will face trial in Northampton County Court on charges he offered a girl money for sex in Bethlehem, a district judge ruled Tuesday.

Joseph Frank Gering, of 105 N. Fifth St. in Emmaus, was ordered to face trial on charges of promoting prostitution, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors and criminal solicitation to commit child rape.

District Judge Nancy Matos Gonzalez dropped some counts in the case at Gering's preliminary hearing Tuesday. Gering remains in Northampton County Prison under $500,000 bail.

According to court records:

Gering was charged Nov. 4 when police said two victims, ages 12 and 16, got into his vehicle while in the parking lot of a south Bethlehem fast food restaurant.

Police said Gering called the girls to his vehicle and offered to buy their meals for them. When the girls got inside, he offered one girl $200 to return to his hotel room for sex.